SMYRNA — U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Marietta) tackled such sensitive topics as gun reform, abortion and rape during the Smyrna Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce breakfast which took place Thursday at the Smyrna Community Center.

“There are some problems, and maybe these huge magazines even for someone who says, ‘look, I just use an AR-15 for target practice,’ but do you really need to be standing there shooting at a silhouette a shot a second or even quicker with that kind of weapon? For what purpose?” Gingrey asked. “I would be willing to listen to the possibility of the capacity of a magazine.”

Gingrey, who took the time to praise Adventure Outdoors owner Jay Wallace as the gold standard for running a responsible gun retail business, said he is also open to revisions of the so-called gun show loophole.

“What it is basically, if you go to a gun show and there’s somebody out there in the parking lot, and they’re getting out of their car, and they’ve got an A-15 on their shoulder or …. John Q. Public wants to sell a handgun or whatever, then there’s no background check,” Gingrey said. “You know, you’re buying a used weapon from somebody and then basically no background check.”

With the sophistication of smartphone technology, there should be an application that allows someone selling a gun to run a background check with relative ease, he said.

Gingrey referenced the man responsible for the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007, describing how he was judged by a psychiatrist to be a danger to himself and ordered to undergo outpatient treatment.

“But because it wasn’t in-patient, it was not required to put his name in a databank,” Gingrey said. “Well, I think in the state of Georgia the law is identical. We ought to fix that.”

Among those in the audience was state Sen.-elect Hunter Hill (R-Smyrna), who shared his thoughts about Gingrey’s remarks on weapons after the breakfast.

“Well, I definitely think that first of all the issue should be handled federally and not at the state level because we don’t want to put our business owners at a disadvantage between Alabama and neighboring states, so I agree that it should be handled federally,” Hill said. “I agree that we should look at background checks for those that have a history of mental illness. We already have a background check, but we need to see if we can incorporate some of the aspects that the congressman brought up into the background check. I don’t think that limiting the clip will help this issue. This is not a gun control issue. This is a tormented individual’s issue, and that’s just what I believe.”

Opening up his talk to questions from the room, Gingrey was asked what the latest news was on the topic of abortion as the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision on abortion approaches on Jan. 22.

“The abortion law that was passed in Georgia last year in regard to the fetal pain issue and whether you can perform an abortion up to 26 weeks, no questions asked, except rubber stamped from two physicians … was changed somewhat and would make abortion more difficult at 22 weeks or 23 weeks,” Gingrey said.

The state law has been highly controversial and received a lot of pushback from such groups as his own professional society, the OB-GYN community, although Gingrey made it clear he believes life begins at conception.

Gingrey weighed in on comments made by two once-favored GOP Senate candidates, Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri and Richard Mourdock of Indiana, who both lost to Democrats in 2012 following remarks they made about pregnancy and rape.

“Part of the reason the Dems still control the Senate is because of comments made in Missouri by Todd Akin and Indiana by Mourdock were considered a little bit over the top,” Gingrey said. “Mourdock basically said ‘Look, if there is conception in the aftermath of a rape, that’s still a child, and it’s a child of God, essentially.’ Now, in Indiana, that cost him the election.

“And in Missouri, Todd Akin … was asked by a local news source about rape and he said, ‘Look, in a legitimate rape situation’ — and what he meant by legitimate rape was just look, someone can say I was raped: a scared-to-death 15-year-old that becomes impregnated by her boyfriend and then has to tell her parents, that’s pretty tough and might on some occasion say, ‘Hey, I was raped.’ That’s what he meant when he said legitimate rape versus non-legitimate rape. I don’t find anything so horrible about that. But then he went on and said that in a situation of rape, of a legitimate rape, a woman’s body has a way of shutting down so the pregnancy would not occur. He’s partly right on that.”

Gingrey pointed out that he had been an OB-GYN since 1975.

“And I’ve delivered lots of babies, and I know about these things. It is true. We tell infertile couples all the time that are having trouble conceiving because of the woman not ovulating, ‘Just relax. Drink a glass of wine. And don’t be so tense and uptight because all that adrenaline can cause you not to ovulate.’ So he was partially right wasn’t he? But the fact that a woman may have already ovulated 12 hours before she is raped, you’re not going to prevent a pregnancy there by a woman’s body shutting anything down because the horse has already left the barn, so to speak. And yet the media took that and tore it apart.”

At a breakfast yesterday morning, I was asked why Democrats made abortion a central theme of the presidential campaign. I do not defend, nor do I stand by, the remarks made by Rep. Akin and Mr. Mourdock. In my attempt to provide context as to what I presumed they meant, my position was misconstrued.

On gun control:

As a father and grandfather, I am heartbroken at the tragedy in Newtown. No parent, child, or community should have to suffer such devastation and overwhelming grief. At the same time, as we begin a national dialogue on how to prevent future tragedies, it is of paramount importance to defend our Second Amendment rights. Throughout my political career, I’ve been a tireless advocate of Second Amendment rights and will continue to be one moving forward.

What do you think of the comments made by Rep. Gingrey about legitimate rape?

Gingrey no longer represents the will of his constituents; therefore, it is time for a changing of the guard. I, Susan Davis, stand for the absolute meaning for the 2nd Amendment, a reform in education, deficit control, a strong military, and honesty in cases of rape. My opponent, as a Doctor and O.B. should know better than to offer any statement that suggests a woman’s body will shut down under duress. Each individual’s body will respond differently, and should the woman be fertile they stand a very good chance of becoming pregnant. Any statement to the contrary to this basic biological fact is nothing more than political posturing. Further, when it comes to gun control, my opponent knows full well what our Founding Fathers envisioned in regards to the 2nd amendment, and it was not to limit the rights of the people in favor of the rights of the government.

This is a time for bold conservative leadership - not political politeness. Both our constitution and our values as Christians are being trampled. His comments are troublesome. He has lost any future vote/support of mine.

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Why do some so people Republican or Democrat feel the need to defend someone in their party when they say or do something stupid? To me that shows absolutely no character when you can't just call a spade a spade. Furthermore if I can't trust you on a matter like this what the heck kind of decisions are you making and doing outside of the public eye???

So extrapolating the logic (using the term loosely) of those who oppose any measure to in any way consider any restrictions on the type of weapons they can own, then I should have the right to own RPGs, tanks, surface-to-air missles, etc, because our government has them?

”I’m completely opposed to selling automatic rifles. I don’t see any reason why they ever madesemi-automatics. I’ve been a member of the NRA, I collect, make and shoot guns. I’ve never used an automatic or semiautomatic for hunting. There’s no need to. They have no place in anybody’sarsenal. If any S.O.B. can’t hit a deer with one shot, then he ought to quit shooting.”

So, which commie-pinko liberal made the above statement? Barry Goldwater.

I have no problems with shotguns, rifles, and even concealed pistols (with a background check), but if you need an automatic weapon for "home security", you need to move to another neighborhood!

Sometimes the neighborhood comes to you dear sir, and our forefathers granted us the right to a firearm NOT a PRIVILEGE. And being you have all this experience under your belt from being an NRA member I do respect your right to say what you wantbeing that is a right under the constitution, but NOT the right of the Government to take any of our freedoms as defined in the Constitution. Most of the politicians speak and vote according to their own agendas, and very often than not they never consult their constituents. OH....how about the semi-automatic pistol...do you have one of those autos in your neighborhood? ..can I keep that in my arsenal? And that sir will be the next thing taken away....then what else will the government decide to take away being the American people will be left with few rights and no firearms to speak of. Then.....there goes your right to free speech. Does any of this sound familiar to you.....consult your history books then give me a better reason for limiting our freedoms.

anonymous

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January 13, 2013

Mr. JS.....Sometimes the neighborhood comes to you no matter what gated community or security system you have. Do you have an automatic pistol? Keep that six shooter and think about when you miss five times what you have left then send me a little message with your thoughts. I have worked in law enforcement patrolling the streets protecting misinformed people like you for almost 30 years. YOU just don't give up freedoms without a fight. I personally don't care to hear someone talk about infringing on people's rights, but I respect the freedom they were given to voice those comments. The guns never killed anyone, and no amount of restrictions will stop killing. Man has been doing it for ages and ages. Think about the next rights that will fall afterwards. The second amendment was added to protect the people. Limiting this right exposes the people.

jeff w

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January 12, 2013

wow; while in general it doesn't surprise me when members of Congress say something stupid, I do expect a higher level of knowledge and competence from a physician. I'm glad no one in my family ever used this bozo for health care.

I too am absolutey amazed this guy is a doctor. Just goes to show that there are some very ignorant doctors out there.

He probably can't practice medicine, so he ran for political office

merthin

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January 12, 2013

This is another congressional representative who has an exceedingly poor understanding of the Second Amendment...he has exposed himself as a Congressional Representative who swore to uphold a Constitution he doesn't understand. He is undeserving and unqualified for his office.

Surely, Georgia can do better. I eagerly await a primary challenger who does demonstrate a knowledge and commitment to the Constitution to support.

You southerners SURE now how to pick 'em. Must be a proud moment for Georgians. You're not doing much to dissuade the notion that you all are a bunch of backwoods hicks who think women should remain silent, submissive, barefoot, & pregnant.

Learn the law before you open your mouth. If two 15 year olds have consensual sex it is a misdemeanor.

16-6-3 G

*** CODE SECTION *** 12/03/01

...

(b) A person convicted of the offense of statutory rape shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than 20 years; provided, however, that if the person so convicted is 21 years of age or older, such person shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than ten nor more than 20 years; provided, further, that if the victim is 14 or 15 years of age and the person so convicted is no more than three years older than the victim, such

person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Tribuckeye

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January 11, 2013

Anyone with a brain knew the republicans would cave. And so it begins. Gingery is, and always has been, just ANOTHER freedom hating, establishment republican who has successfully fooled conservatives over the years.........and another reason why I will never vote for a republican again.

Mr. Gingrey - between your embarrassment in this article and Mr. Price's negative vote to support the victims of Hurricane Sandy, I feel like Georgia now has the lowest qualified congressional representatives in all 50 states.

*We welcome your comments on the stories and issues of the day and seek to provide a forum for the community to voice opinions. All comments are subject to moderator approval before being made visible on the website but are not edited. The use of profanity, obscene and vulgar language, hate speech, and racial slurs is strictly prohibited. Advertisements, promotions, and spam will also be rejected. Please read our terms of service for full guides